We continue the latest Penn Central Car Movements (P.C.C.M.) series of virtual operations as the Kings Port Turn delivers cars that originated from the New York Central Train Layout.
Power for today's Turn is headed by GP38-2 #6150 and GP30 #6115. The GP30s have been maligned by some but they perform well on the Kings Port Division!
The two unit consist backs into the yard to pick up "The Turn".
A yard hand observes the cars roll by as the Turn pulls out of the yard. The caboose that will be tacked on the rear of this train is visible in the background on the caboose track.
The caboose is added to the short string of cars, officially making them The Kings Port Turn or WK-1. It will be designated as KW-2 on the return run from Kings Port
The first pick up is the brown NYC boxcar at Canton Box.
This move completed, the train heads out of town until it reaches Reynolds Beverage Distributors and Booms Ready Mix which both have cars needing to be picked up. These cars will figure in freight traffic cycles in future P.C.C.M.s No set outs yet.
As the Turn slows to work Reynolds and Booms, a steel train overtakes it on the next track led by a GP38/FP7 consist.
The Turn's two Geeps are cut to pick up cars while the steel train's loaded gondolas and coil cars rumble by.
The end of the steel train is visible behind GP30# 6115.
A TP&W 40 footer from Booms Ready Mix and an Illinois Central boxcar from Reynolds Beverage Dist. are pulled from the siding.
Meanwhile the steel train slows as it passes by the helper pocket occupied by a pair of FP7 pushers. This heavy tonnage train is going to get a little help going up the hill to Marion.
The helpers get behind the steel train and hook up on the fly.
A local railfan catches the helper set in action
While the steel train gets a shove, the Kings Port Turn adds the two cars to its train and proceeds to follow the it upgrade toward Marion.
Our railfan stuck around long enough to catch the climbing Turn meet the returning helper set!
The Turn reaches Marion and passes Hedberg Aggregates. It will pick up two cars there on the return trip.
Reaching KP Steel, the Turn will pick up the PC boxcar in the background, the two coil cars, and the two PC corrugated gondolas. It will set out two coil cars to replace the pair picked up.
First the boxcar is pulled...
..followed by the breadbox trough coil cars and the corrugated gons.
The last move at KP Steel is to set out two other covered coil cars.
The pick ups are added to the train and it gets underway toward Williams Yard to interchange with the Kings Port & Western
WK-1 approaches Williams Yard....
That seems like enough to this installment! The next one, soon to come, will feature the Turn at Williams Yard and then making its trip back to West Mill as KW-2.
Thanks for taking a look at this long post!
To: West Mill / Rock Ridge / Elkhart
ReplyDeleteFrom: Terminal Yard
Acknowledge dispatch of PC Train WK-1 and delivery of empty breadbox trough cars forwarded from Terminal Yard to Empire Steel.
Terminal Yard out...
Another WOW Ralph! Photos of the action again showcase the great railroad that is the K.P.D. The videos were first rate and super enjoyable. It sounds a lot like your helpers were running on the 'shoe'. A great inclusion that was very cool to see. I acknowledge the good word put in and the good work performed by the GP30s! The bar keeps getting set higher!
Thanks! I was very happy to see how well the Yellow Box FP7s helper set speed matched with the head end power of the train running DC!
DeleteTo West Mill
ReplyDeleteTo: Rock Ridge
To: Terminal Yard
From: Elkhart
Acknowledge delivery of cars from Terminal Yard with train WK-1.
Elkhart out.
Another fine segment in the PCCM 46 series. I like your choice of road power on WK-1 and the Steel Turn. The railfans did a great job catching the action with WK-1 and the Steel Turn. Also the Helper footage was enjoyable as well. I don’t know who would be making spurious comments about the GP30’s, the BNSF still has rebuilt versions some 55 years after their introduction.
Thanks Brian,
DeleteJohn and I have been making joking references to the GP30s performance after having seen a video in which the narrator and railroad employee described a GP30 in the scene as a unit that would "slip on the turntable". He obviously didn't have good experiences with that loco! I've heard a few folks comment about the GP30 being the ugliest locomotive. We love 'em on the KPD and N.Y.C.T.L. though!
Wow, I’ve never heard anyone make negative comments about the GP30’s. Every railroad in Denver with the exception of the Rock Island had GP30’s in abundance. I’ll make sure the GP30 gets some well deserved appreciation.
DeleteThe other 'slight' made to the GP30 that Ralph and I both read is in T.R.P.'s 2018 1st quarter magazine. The author is a well known and well respected railroader who wrote and photographed the article L.V.R.R. locomotive blues. On page 52 is a beautiful photo of two red P GP30s hauling a freight train. The caption on page 53 states the PC lent the LV these engine which the LV sent back a few months later as unfit to handle the tonnage. The author is the same person who commented on the video described by Ralph. We were both surprised by this but the author was a 1:1 railroader who would have first hand knowledge of this.
DeleteI’ll have to look further on this distain towards the GP30. The only issue I heard regarding the GP30 was the tall, skinny electric cabinets in the cab. That’s why they had the unique cab on them. The Santa Fe asked EMD to redesign the cab for a new style electric cabinet on the GP35’s. Other than that, nothing I’m aware of regarding GP30’s.
DeleteWe'd welcome all inquiries being made. The detractor did speak highly of the GP38 as being a strong engine. The only difference I see between the two that would make a difference is the the traction motors. The GP38 used a later version. Other than that the GP30 was heavier with a bigger fuel tank which I think would make it less prone to slipping.
DeleteI would imagine if the LV ordered the GP30 instead of the GP38, Mr. MB might have a different opinion of them. We’ll continue to praise the GP30 and it’s worthy attributes. How can the NYC, Pennsy, Penn Central and Conrail be wrong rostering them. On a side note, the BNSF recently traded 26 GP38’s for the like number of used 55 year old GP30’s. Maybe the BNSF might know a thing or two about the GP30. ;)
DeleteTo: West Mill
ReplyDeleteTo: Terminal Yard
To: Elkart
From: Rock Ridge
Acknowledgment - delivery of cars to and from Terminal Yard with trains WK-1/WK-2.
Rick Ridge Yard Out!
Some great action going on! The videos tell it all! I'm sure Cappy Foster is enjoying the attention in and around West Mill. At least he let the railfan take some videos! I like the new addition to the PC Roster as well!
Thanks Neal! The KPD set in the early 70's reflects a time when security was a little easier going as far as hanging around railroad installations was concerned so photographers and videographers capture the action handily!
DeleteAnother GREAT segment! I wanted to mention on the first segment, a good spot to end it before Cappy's malt got too warm! I'm curious, l know your in DC and the main line is a dog bone loop, is the main controlled by a single throttle or cut into blocks with multiple throttles? My prior layout the main had 5 blocks & throttles. Much care was needed not to open a short. The current one the mains are cut into 4 blocks but only one throttle per main is needed. A lot less wiring. (Although I like wiring!)
ReplyDeleteHi KK! Thanks for taking a look! The layout is a long dogbone broken into twelve blocks. I have two throttles that can control any of them as selected. Sometimes I need to pay attention that I've flipped the switches the right way to keep traffic going!
ReplyDelete